Nitish launches telemedicine services

Heralding a new era of quality health facility, telemedicine services were launched in prominent hospitals of the Bihar Capital and those in 22 districts and 82 primary health centres of the State on Wednesday.

The telemedicine services was launched by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at a function at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).

The Chief Minister told reporters that in the first phase telemedicine facilities have been started in PMCH, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science (IGIMS), Indira Gandhi Heart Institute, all in Patna, along with 22 district hospitals and 82 primary health centres.

In the next phase, other medical colleges and remaining primary health centres would be provided with telemedicine facilities, he added.

Besides, providing facilities of medical experts from within the State, services of those outside the State would also be added, he said.

On the occasion, the Mr. Kumar talked to patients in many district hospitals.

He had conversation with a patient in the Sadar Hospital in his native Nalanda district and assured him quality treatment.

To make the facility systematic, the Chief Minister said information regarding expert doctors whose consultancy services would be hired on a particular day would be displayed in advance.

Command area of every hospital would be determined, he added.

Principal Secretary Health Deepak Kumar was present on the occasion of launch of telemedicine.

Meanwhile, former State health minister Ashwani Chaube lashed out at the Chief Minister for seeking ‘cheap’ publicity by launching telemedicine services in main hospitals in the State Capital and those in 22 districts saying that he had already unveiled the service from Bhagalpur district in April.

“It’s very cheap on the part of the Chief Minister to seek publicity by launching telemedicine services which have already been there in 98 hospitals and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) since April this year,” he told reporters. - PTI